The Sabres are on their first five-game point streak (3-0-2) since they had points in nine straight games (7-0-2) from March 10 to 27, 2012.

With a 6-4-2 (.583) record in October, the Sabres posted their best opening month since the 2011-12 season (6-4-0) and their best month with at least five games since March 2016.

The Sabres have gone 8-1-3 in their last 12 games against the Senators, with the lone regulation loss coming in the last meeting between the teams.

Entering tonight's game, the Sabres have recorded at least a point in seven straight visits to Ottawa (5-0-2), including every game since the beginning of the 2015-16 season. It is Buffalo's longest road point streak in the all-time series between the teams.

If he dresses, tonight will be Jason Pominville's 1,000th NHL game.

HOT AGAINST OTTAWA

Jack Eichel has recorded 11 points (4+7) in nine career games against the Senators.

Sam Reinhart has posted 10 points (5+5) in his last 10 games against Ottawa.

Kyle Okposo has totaled seven points (4+3) in his last seven meetings with the Senators.

Evan Rodrigues has tallied a point in each of his last two games against Ottawa (1+1).

ROAD WARRIORS

Buffalo has posted a 2-0-1 record in its last three road games. A point tonight would give the Sabres their first four-game road point streak since they went 5-0-1 on the road from Jan. 22 to Feb. 22, 2018.

The Sabres have scored at least four goals in each of their last three road games. If they score four tonight, it would be the first time the team has done so in four straight road games since Nov. 2 to 13, 2006.

KILLING ITThe Sabres have killed off each of their last 12 penalties and enter tonight's game with four straight games without allowing a power-play goal.

During this streak, the Sabres' goaltenders have turned aside 20 shots on the power play and the team has killed off 23:54 of power-play time.

It's the Sabres' best penalty-killing stretch since the team killed 17 consecutive penalties from Dec. 8 to 22, 2017.

HOME-AND-HOME

Tonight's game is the first in a home-and-home series between the Sabres and Senators that concludes Saturday afternoon in Buffalo.

The Sabres and Penguins have previously played seven home-and-home series, with the Sabres going 5-2-0 in the home games and 2-3-2 (one tie) in the road games. Buffalo's points breakdown in these previous series is as follows: four points (1), three points (1), two points (4), one point (1), zero points (0).

The Sabres have played in 162 previous home-and-home series in franchise history, going 91-48-23 (.633) in the home games and 56-77-29 (.435) in the road games in previous series. The team is 70-63-29 (.522) all-time in the first game of these series and 77-62-23 (.546) in the second. Buffalo's points breakdown in these previous series is as follows: four points (31), three points (24), two points (66), one point (16), zero points (25).

Buffalo's last home-and-home series sweep came in the 2014-15 season, as the Sabres beat the Canadiens on Nov. 28 and 29, 2014.

WELCOME TO POMINVILLEJason Pominville is expected to appear in his 1,000th NHL game tonight. He is expected to become the…

Facts from the day of Pominville's first NHL game (Dec. 27, 2003)No. 1 Song: "Hey Ya!" by OutkastNo. 1 Album: "Soulful" by Ruben StuddardNo. 1 Movie: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"

Other players to appear in their 1,000th NHL game as a member of the Sabres

Player

Date

Opponent

Dick Duff

March 7, 1971

vs. Toronto

Gilbert Perreault

Jan. 29, 1984

vs. Pittsburgh

Craig Ramsay

Oct. 28, 1984

vs Calgary

Don Lever

Jan. 27, 1986

at Montreal

Phil Russell

March 12, 1986

at Chicago

Dale Hawerchuk

Feb. 4, 1995

at Florida

Charlie Huddy

March 8, 1996

at Anaheim

James Patrick

Dec. 4, 1999

vs. NY Rangers

Mike Grier

Nov. 3, 2010

vs. Boston

Brian Gionta

March 27, 2017

vs. Florida

WHAT'S THE SKINNY?

Jeff Skinner has 12 points (6+6) in his last eight games and entered play Wednesday ranked sixth in the league with a plus-10 rating.

Skinner also entered play Wednesday tied for fifth in the league with 10 points (5+5) in the last two weeks.

All of Skinner's goals have come at even strength this season, and his six even-strength tallies tied him for ninth in the NHL entering play Wednesday.

Skinner has recorded a point in each of his last two visits two Ottawa (1+1).

WHO'S HOT?

Jason Pominville enters tonight's game on a five-game point streak, during which he has totaled nine points (4+5) and averaged 17:11 of ice time per game. A point tonight would give him points in six straight contests for the first time since Jan. 19 to 31, 2017.

Jake McCabe has recorded seven points (1+6) in his last six games.

Jack Eichel has recorded 12 points (4+8) in his last 11 games.

Kyle Okposo has totaled four points (3+1) in his last four games, including three (2+1) in his last two road games.

SABRES AMONG LEAGUE-LEADERS (Sabres' league rankings before 10/31 games)

Bogosian: 2.6 BkS/GP (8th)

Eichel: 47 S (8th)

Hutton: 264 SV (8th)

Ristolainen: 25:16 TOI/GP (8th), 34 hits (T-10th)

Sheary: 3 PPG (T-7th)

Skinner: plus-10 (6th), 6 EVG (T-9th)

Ullmark: 1 SO (T-3rd), 2.00 GAA (8th), .935 SV% (9th)

BUF-OTT CONNECTIONSNathan Beaulieu:

Played with Senators G Mike Condon in Montreal. Senators goaltending coach Pierre Groulx was also on the Canadiens' coaching staff during Beaulieu's time with the team.

Patrik Berglund:

Played with Senators F Magnus Paajarvi in St. Louis. The duo also won a silver medal together while representing Sweden at the 2011 IIHF World Championship.

Jason Botterill:

Was the assistant general manager in Pittsburgh when Senators G Mike Condon played for the Penguins.

Phil Housley:

Played with Senators G Craig Anderson in Chicago.

Carter Hutton:

Played with Senators F Magnus Paajarvi in St. Louis.

Johan Larsson:

Won a gold medal with Senators F Magnus Paajarvi while representing Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.

Jake McCabe:

Played for Team USA with Senators G Mike Condon and D Chris Wideman at the 2016 IIHF World Championship.

Kyle Okposo:

Played for Team USA with Senators F Bobby Ryan at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.

Jason Pominville:

Represented the United States with Senators G Craig Anderson at the 2008 IIHF World Championship.

Sam Reinhart:

Won a gold medal while representing Canada with Senators D Cody Ceci, F Matt Duchene and F Mark Stone at the 2016 IIHF World Championship.

Conor Sheary:

Played with Senators G Mike Condon in Pittsburgh.

Jeff Skinner:

Played with Senators F Matt Duchene for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships in 2011, 2013 and 2017. They won a silver medal together in 2017.

Steve Smith:

Was an assistant coach in Edmonton when Senators F Magnus Paajarvi was playing for the Oilers.

Vladimir Sobotka:

Played with Senators F Magnus Paajarvi in St. Louis.

Tage Thompson:

Played with Senators F Magnus Paajarvi in St. Louis.

Won a gold medal for Team USA with Senators F Colin White at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. The duo also played together the following year at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, winning a bronze medal.